As another year goes by, I find myself reflecting on the past year while beginning to anticipate what lies ahead this coming year. Throughout my career in technology, I've had amazing opportunities to work around some incredible people such as the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs and witnessed how innovation can transform businesses and economies. As an engineer, I have always been fascinated by how a simple idea can grow to change people's lives. Here in Silicon Valley, the notion of ideas changing the world is part of the fabric and why I live here. That perhaps also explains the journey my career has taken, and why I have taken the decisions, I have.

World Transitions from PCs to iPhones

Early in my career, I joined IBM - this was at a time when the IBM Personal Computer had just been announced and was flourishing. We weren't the first company to build a personal computer, but IBM helped PCs become mainstream.

The company, founded in 1911, populated homes and offices throughout the world with its little beige boxes, running on what was then the most powerful 16-bit Intel processor and MS-DOS. I was part of the team that designed the first group of IBM PC printers and it was a rare opportunity for me to manage product development from design to putting the product into the market. It was never just about the bottom line or one-upping competitors. It was, to me, about seeing an idea from concept to design to reality. When you see your products being used by thousands of people, you get a sense of deep satisfaction of having been a part of that creative process of innovation impacting our culture and society.

Build Technology to Touch and Change Lives

I learnt one thing at Apple, for technology to make sense, it had to touch lives. I was fortunate, I had a chance to build world-class sales and marketing group and lead the Enterprise Division to be one of Apple's most profitable business units. From the IBM PC 5150 to the Apple iPhone, many of the great product innovations in the last century have enabled us to become more connected regardless of where in the world we live. The last several years has only seen this connectivity accelerate.

Concept, development and deployment of new products now happen simultaneously, and through the Internet, businesses have profound influence on cultural development and access to virtually any customer in the world. When I travel around the world, and this may just be me, I feel a sense of familiarity and comfort when I see people using the same devices I see back home. Connectivity has become a fact of life, and I feel fortunate to be a part of the industry that continues to enrich and empower our lives through a global sharing of ideas and intelligent enterprise.

For me, the decision to leave Apple was again driven by pursuit of excellence and innovation. Four years ago, when I left my position at Apple for 3VR, I spotted something unique. Here was a Silicon Valley start-up with major backers - one of them being the CIA - that had incredible technology. It had already made a name in the industry for its patented forensic video search capability, which cuts fraud investigations from hours to minutes. Yet, like every intelligent product or technology, it also bridges the gap between the past, the current, and the future. In 3VR too, I saw an opportunity to help people, possibly save lives, and make a difference. Again another decision I made because I believed this would change lives. It is only when technology is woven into fabric of life and business, and great companies are born.

Innovation has the Power to Change the Balance Sheet

A CEO's mandate is not to sell the most products. It is to drive change and bring improvement. I believe, innovation is what changes the balance sheet. Today, we are just scratching the surface of what's possible. Someday, I imagine we'll have the ability to measure every metric imaginable. I believe with innovation as the foundation, technology will bring about a revolution to create a more open, transparent and safe world.

Al Shipp is the CEO of 3VR. A seasoned technology veteran, Al joined 3VR from Apple, where he built a world-class sales and marketing group and led the Enterprise Division to be one of Apple's most profitable business units. Prior to Apple, Shipp served in senior leadership roles at Critical Path, Inktomi Corporation, BEA Systems, and IBM.